According to earth.org, the world continues to grapple with various devastating environmental problems, which include global warming due to widespread fossil fuel usage, food waste, plastic and air pollution, and deforestation.
Since these ecological issues have been around for years, organisations and individuals have taken action to mitigate them. Although there have been improvements, the world still has a long way to go to nurse the environment back to health.
This year, the United Arab Emirates is making another great stride to help protect and nurture the environment.
According to the Abu Dhabi latest news, The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi or EAD is launching an e-learning tool dedicated to boosting knowledge and awareness about environmental issues and ways to prevent, reduce, fix, or manage them in the UAE and the Middle East.
The organisation aims to achieve this through e-Green, a digital environmental educational platform.
What is e-Green?
E-Green is the brainchild of the EAD, the Middle East’s biggest environmental regulator. It was officially launched on October 12, 2022.
It is the first collaborative e-learning tool dedicated to the environmental sector in the Gulf region, with a particular focus on protecting and conserving Abu Dhabi’s natural resources.
Presently, e-Green is in its first phase and features content for students, educators and environmental experts. However, this digital platform will be launched for public use in 2023.
By next year, everyone will have access to the platform, allowing individuals and local, regional and international organisations to use it and upload relevant content.
According to Her Excellency Dr Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary General of EAD, e-Green has the primary goal of becoming the leading global reference for environmental e-learning.
Through this platform, the EAD aims to share environmental knowledge in an easy, accessible, user-friendly, and efficient way.
E-Green currently features a wide array of well-researched scientific reports and information to enhance the user’s knowledge and awareness of the environment. All courses are presented in video formats with supporting graphics to attract and engage young learners who prefer visuals over text or spoken content.
This e-learning tool also includes advanced special needs features to accommodate colour-blind learners.
With the appealing content format and inclusivity features, students will find learning on e-Green convenient, easy, and effective.
What Benefits Can Students Gain By Learning on e-Green?
Aside from providing users with well-researched, up-to-date information about the environment and ecological conservation strategies, this e-learning tool has 53 courses and eight learning paths for schools and students.
The first topic on the platform is the BP-sponsored Sustainable Schools Initiative or SSI.
BP is a programme of the EAD that aims to encourage schools to become more sustainable and eco-friendly. It was launched in 2009 and currently has 153 participating schools from Abu Dhabi.
The SSI topic has six learning paths, which are the following:
- Eco-clubs
- Green Audit
- Outdoor Education
- Primary
- Intermediate
- Advanced
There are 42 courses on e-Green focused on SSI, all with the aim of encouraging schools and learners to become members of the initiative.
The second topic, which is supported by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company or ADNOC, is titled Biodiversity. This program has two paths: the Geography of Abu Dhabi and Marine Vertebrates.
Presently, there are 11 courses on the platform covering the biodiversity path.
All courses were developed by subject matter experts following the best practices and standards for e-learning materials. They are also optimised to provide learners with an efficient user experience.
Additionally, all courses are taught by experts from the EAD, Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK), Emirates Nature – WWF, AZRAQ, and other qualified and trained educators.
The various courses, pathways, and learning methodologies ensure learners broaden and update their knowledge regarding the environment effectively.
Moreover, once a student completes a full learning path, they receive a certificate. They can download and print this electronic document, share it on social media, and use it for a variety of purposes.
However, e-Green will only issue the certificate once the learner completes all the courses of a learning path. The platform can detect this with its tailor-made video player; it can check if the user has watched all the videos in the learning path in full.
With the additional knowledge and certificate, students can become more proactive and effective leaders advocating for positive changes that can help save the environment.
How Can Students Help Save the Environment Now?
Aside from broadening their knowledge about the environment now, students can start advocating for and helping protect and save nature through the following ways:
- Making the three Rs a habit.
All students are taught the importance of the three Rs in conserving and protecting the environment.
Regardless of their age, students must continue to reduce, reuse and recycle to help save the planet’s natural resources.
Following the three Rs in the use of paper, plastic, metal, and wooden products can go a long way in cutting down waste and carbon footprint.
If recycling is the only option, students need to learn how to segregate waste products correctly to ensure these items can be converted into usable things.
- Saving water and electricity.
Whether at school or home, students should make it a habit to save water and electricity.
This entails taking showers instead of long baths, turning off the tap when brushing, and recycling water whenever possible.
Additionally, children and teens should always turn off lights and unplug electronic devices when they are not in use.
- Buying sustainable products.
Even at an early age, students should learn to be discerning consumers. They should know how to study the environmental impact and disposal techniques of the products they buy.
Moreover, students must take the time to learn about a product’s origin, materials and recyclability to ensure they are buying something sustainable.
These are habits students should develop when they buy school supplies, accessories, and food products.
- Being more proactive.
Lastly, students can start their own initiative or join environmental organisations to help save the environment.
Children and teens can do this by starting a community clean-up group, organising carpools, or initiating recycling drives.
Students can even start their own environmental organisations since there are many successful youth-led ones they can emulate.
Students can also make an impact on the environment by volunteering and assisting in local environmental community groups.
Whether students are interested in marine conservation only or the environment in general, learning on e-Green can broaden their knowledge and double their efforts effectively.
